Attachment for sewing machines



Oct. l5, 1940. A, SQLTAN 2,218,100

ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES v Filedsept. l, 1938 INVENTOR ,4mm/wif? SQL Tf1/v BY ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNITED STATES YATTACHMENTFOR. SEWING MACHINES Alexander Sultan, Elmhurst, N. Y., assignor to Percy W. Valentine, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application September 1, 1938, vSerial No. 227,957

Claims.

This invention relates to attachments for sewing machines and vparticularly machines employed for sewing the soles of shoes to the uppers, and the object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the class described `having a workpiece support capable of yieldablre movement with respect to the work-piece to compensate for irregularities that may prevail therein and also a support of this kind capable of a lateral swinging m as well as circumferential swinging movement with respect to a companion work-piece support to give free access to the attachment in assembling the work-piece therein; a further object being 'to provide a work-piece support in the form of a spreader for engaging the flange portion of a work-piece with means on the surface of the spreader supporting the work-piece to provide vfree passage of the needle yof the machine through l the work-piece at the outer surface of the spread- 39 er; a further object being to provide means for manually moving the rst named hook-shaped work-piece support away fromthe work-piece in coupling and uncoupling the work-piece with the attachment andagainst the action `ofthe tensional means moving said support into engagement with the workpiece, and with these and other objects in View the 'invention consists in an `attachment of the class and for ythe purpose specied which issimple in construction, eflcient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed. The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the'separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which: f

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the general arrangement of the attachment when in operative position, with part of the construction diagrammatically shown in extended position in dotted lines. A

Fig. 2 is a section substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section 'substantially on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 4 is a partial section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan View of a part of the lstructure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a side edge view ofthe device as seen 'in Fig. 5, and

Fig. '7 is a vsectionaldetail View somewhat simiylar to Fig. 2 and showing a` modified form of construction. 'f

(Cl. i12-62) The attachment forming the subject matter of the present invention yforms a continuation in part of the structure disclosed in my prior application, Serial'No.` 139,486 led April 28, 1937, y, having since issued in Patent #2,134,010. Generally speaking, the present attachment incorporates additional structural features rendering the attachment more'suitable and adaptable for use in performing vthe desired function, namely, in i stitching a sole having'anintegral welt, to the 10 upper. Y' f In Figs- 1 to 4 inclusive, I have shown one adaptation of the invention, and in Fig. 1, I0 represents a supporting bracket or base/havinga .r l lower L-shaped portion II fashioned `to mount 15 the same in connection with a sewing machine of the type and kind under consideration so as to arrange the attachment properly with respectto the needle of the machine. At I 2 is shown a bracket which r`isU-'shaped in cross-sectional `20 form, and inner 'adjacent surfaces of the:side walls thereof are provided with lateral projections which tingrooves I3 ina block or bar I4, whereby said bar may be 4adjusted forwardly and back- 'wardly in the'bracket. A bolt I5 isemployed for l25 securing the bar I4 inv vdiiferent` positions of adjustment by drawing the side walls of ythe U- shapedportion I2 ofthe bracket firmly upon said block or bar.

A supplemental block I6 ris `adjustably supported Yon the rear reduced end I1 of the block I4 and consistsof fa bottom plate I8 having an upwardly extending bearing portion I9 for receiving a rocker shaft 20. One side of the bottom plate I8'is provided with a downwardly extend- `35 ing ange 2I in which is'supported adjustment screws 22 which operate in 4connection with the reduced end I'I of the block I4 in supporting the supplemental blockl in proper alinement on l the block I4, which will be apparent. A screw 23 passes through the vextension I'I and is coupled with the plate I 8v in securing the supplemental' block `I B in position. This lscrew serves to draw the plate I8 downwardly upon four seating screws 24 ofthe socket type whchwill control the vertical .45 adjustment 'of the supplemental block I6 inithe block` I4, as will beapparent. vThe screws 22'ad- 'just the plate I8k laterally, whereas the screw 23 serves to retain the plate Iin different positions u of adjustment." 1

These latter'features are common in the Patent #2,134,010 heretofore referred to, but'care repeated .simplyto' make Athe present illustration 'understandable with respect to the several adp iustments which are attributed to'one'of the work- 55 piece supporting parts; for example, the workpiece supporting part 25 which is yoke-shaped and hook-shaped in form, that is to say, is provided with an upwardly extending yoke-shaped portion 26 and a laterally extending hook-shaped arm portion 21 having a rounded end 28 for engaging the work-piece 29, as seen in Fig. 4 of the drawing. The work-piece 29 is in the form of a sole including an integral welt or welt lip as at 3U. It will be understoody that in this figure, the upper to which the welt is attached, is not shown, only for the purpose of simplifying the illustration,

The support 25 also includes an enlarged portion 3l which is substantially I -shaped in form and includes a rearwardly extending rod 32 which passes through a bearing 33 in ya, swinging and tiltable arm 34. The arm is arrangedl to swing laterally upon a screw pin 35 having a kpurled head 36, said head operating upon a conical spring 31 which provides slight raising movement of the arm including the member 25 with respect to a supporting plate 38 which is integral with the inner end of the rocker shaft 29 and extending laterally to one side thereof as is illustrated in Fig. 1 of thedrawing. Y

The plate 38 has a forwardly directed extension 39 upon which the arm 34 as well as the enlargement 3| of the member 25 seats. The extension 39 has an upwardly projecting pin 40 adapted to enter an aperture 4I in the arm 34 for keying the arm against displacement from the swinging plate 38 or the extension 39 thereof. However, by raising the arm against the action of the spring 31, the arm may be swung on the screw pin 35 later- Y ally, and said arm including the member 25 may also be swung on the rocker shaft 20 upwardly substantially in the manner illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing. This swinging movement of the member 25 vis provided for giving free access to the attachment in mounting a workpiece therein or in removing the work-piece from theattachment. The member 25 or the rounded end 28 thereof may be adjusted toward and from the work-piece by the adjustment of the shaft 29 controlled by the nuts 42 arranged upon the shaft 20, one of which includes an enlarged collar 43 Yoperating in a recess 44 in the plate I 8 so that the shaft may be drawn forwardly and backwardly in the bearing I9 to provide the' desiredadjustment, and the other ofwhich constitutes a lock nut. 'I'he plate 38 extends rearwardly and forms the support for the screw pin 35 as will be apparent, and also serves to support the rear end of the arm 34.

Pivoted to the rear end of the arm as seen at 45 is an operating lever 46 which is also pivoted as seen at 41 to a block 48 on the rear squared or flattened end of the rod 32 as clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The block 48 is adjustably secured at different positions longitudinally of the squared or flattened end of the rod 32 so as to adjust the tension of a coil spring 49 arranged upon the rod between said block and the bearing portion 33 of the arm 34 so as to regulate tensional engagement of the workpiece supporting member 25 and the end 28 thereof upon the work-piece, while at the same time permitting free movement of the work-piece with respect to the member in the event of any slight variations that may prevail therein, It will be understood that the member 25 is movable outwardly with respect to Athe arm 34 against the action of the spring. The

finger-grip lever 46 provides for manual movement of the member 25 into a disengaging position in the operation ofdetaching the work-piece and in swinging the member into raised position.

Arranged upon the top of the block I4 is a plate 50, supporting at its forward end a projecting rounded stop I. Adjacent the stop 5|, the block I4 is provided with an undercut projecting flange 52, at one side of which is a welt supporting element 53 normally depressed by a spring 54 as in the construction shown in said priorrPatent #2,134,010. The element 53 serves to retain the welt 30 Ain position upon a spreader 55 and `the rounded supporting surface 28 of the member 25 and yieldably holds the work-piece in proper position as will appear upon a consideration of Fig. 4 of the drawing.

'Ihe spreader 55 is arranged upon one end of a stub shaft 56 adjustably secured in the block I4 by means of a set screw 51, so that the position of the spread-er withrespect to the undercut 52 may be regulated. The outer surface of the spreader 55 is also cut rearwardly to give free access to the needle of the machine, and at one side of the surface lis an outwardly projecting supplementalspreader 55a which serves to support the sole 29 away from the outer surface of the spreader 55 to provide free action of the needle in the stitching operation of the machine, as will be apparent.

In Fig. 7 of the drawing I have shown a slight modification wherein means is shown for operating the arm 34a through a foot treadle on a machine which actuates an `operating rod 58 coupled 0with a'projecting end 59 on the arm 34a as seen at B, the arm being pivoted to the supporting plate 38a as seen atGI. With this construction the lateral swinging movement of the arm will be dispensed with, but otherwise the arm will be of the samegeneral structure as that shown in Figs. 1 to 6' inclusive. A pin 62 is passed through the rear end portion of the arm and is threaded to receive an adjustable nut 63 to regulate the tension of a spring 64 against which the arm 34a willbe raised.

It will of course Lbe understood that the member 25 will have the same movement in the arm as shown in Figs. 1 and 2` of the drawing, but the member including the means for actuating the same is omitted in Fig. '1. InA this connection it will be understood that my invention is not necessarily limited to any particular manner of actuating or adjusting the several work-.piece supporting members or elements, provided the relative adjustments and movements heretofore indicated canbeaccomplished.

From the foregoing, it will appear that in addition lto` the two way adjustment provided between the block I1 and the supplemental block I6 by the screws 22, 23, and 24, the supporting plate 38 for the arm 34 swinging about the axis 2U is also adjustable longitudinally of the attachment in the bearing I9. l'Ihernember 25 including its supporting arm 34 may either be swung laterally or vertically as in Fig. 1, and said member is resiliently supported in operative position and capable of longitudinal movement in its support. `The spreader 55` is `also adjustable with respect to the member 55 and the undercut 52 to adapt `the attachment to work-pieces of various sizes and having different forms and sizes of welts, and the support 53 serves to yieldably maintain the work-piece in operative position. In other words, my improved attachment might be said to be universally adjustable and adaptable. tol various `work-pieces and also readily accessible for the insertion andremoval of `workpieces whenever desired, accomplishing the latter result quickly and misano without disturbing any adjustments previously made.

" In some instances it may be desirable to change the contour of the member orthe yoke or hookarm portions thereof when operating upon diierent work-pieces, but this may be done by rsimply substituting one member for another in the attachment and without disturbing the rest of the mechanism thereof. This would also apply to the lspreader 55.

The support 53 in addition to engaging thesole and Welt,l also supports that part of the upper to be secured thereto so as t'o support both workpieces in rm engagement with each other in the stitching operation.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An attachment for use in supporting the sole and upper in the operation of stitching the same together, said attachment comprising a spreader forming one work-piece support, a combination hook-shaped and yoke-shaped member forming another work-piece support cooperating with said spreader, a swinging plate for supporting said member, means for adjusting the position of said plate to properly position said member with respect to the spreader, an arm swingably supported l on said plate and with which said member is coupled, and means keying the arm to the plate in retaining said member in operative position.

2. An attachment for use in supporting the sole and upper in the operation of stitching the same together, said attachment comprising a spreader forming one work-piece support, a combination hook-shaped and yoke-shaped member forming another work-piece support cooperating with said spreader, a swinging plate for supportporting said member, means for adjusting the position of said plate to properly position said member with respect to the spreader, an arm swingably supported on said plate and with which said member is coupled, Ameans keying the arm to the plate in retaining said member in operative position, and means for yieldably supporting said member in the arm to provide automatic movement of the arm relatively to said spreader.` 3. An attachment for use in supporting the sole and upper in the operation of stitching the same together, said attachment comprising a spreader forming one work-piece support, a combination hook-shaped and yoke-shaped member forming another work-piece support cooperating with said spreader, a swinging plate for supporting said member, means for adjusting the position of said plate to properly position said member with respect to the spreader, an arm swingably supported on said plate and with which said member is coupled, means keying the arm to the plate in retaining said member in operative position, means for yieldably supporting said member in the arm to provide automatic movement of the arm relatively to said spreader, and manual operating means cooperating with the last named means to manually move the member with respect to said arm.

4. In an attachment for supporting the sole and upper in the operation of stitching the same together, a spreader to engage and support the welt lip of the sole in the stitching operation and the surface of the spreader having a supplemental spreading element for spacing the welt lip from the sole to provide needle clearance in the stitching operation, and oth'ermovably supported means 'adjacent the spreader for engaging and supporting the work-piece thereon.

5. Inan 'attachment for supporting the sole and upper in the operation of stitching the same together, a-spreader to 'engage and support the welt lip of the'sole in the stitching operation and the surface of the spreaderhaving a supplemental spreading element for spacing' the Welt lip from the sole to provide needle clearance in the stitching operation, other movably supported means adjacent the spreader forengaging and supportingfthework-piece thereon,'one of said last named means comprising a hook-shaped member swingably supported with respect to the spreader, yand means yieldably supporting said member to move toward and from the spreader in a direction of the outer surface thereof.

6. In a sewing machine attachment of the class described, in combination with a stationary workpiece support, a work-piece supporting member cooperating with the first named support in retaining the work-piece in position during the stitching operation thereof, means for swinging said member in two directions with respect to the stationary support and for adjusting a part of said member for alinement and spacing with the stationary support, and means for yieldably supporting said member to move toward and from the stationary support.

7. An attachment for sewing machines ofthe class described for supporting the sole and upper in the operation of stitching the same, said attachment comprising a spreader for engaging the welt lip of the sole, means for retaining the upper uponA the sole and said welt lip, an arm mounted to swing vertically on a horizontal axis, a workpiece supporting member slidably engaging said arm and having a hook-shaped portion terminating at its free end adjacent said first named means, and means yieldably supporting said member in said arm to provide movement of said end of the hook-shaped portion thereof toward and from said first named means in supporting a workpiece therebetween.

8. An attachment for sewing machines of the class described for supporting the sole and upper in the operation of stitching the same, said attachment comprising a spreader for engaging the welt lip of the sole, means for retaining the upper upon the sole and said welt lip, an arm mounted to swing vertically on a horizontal axis, a workpiece supporting member slidably engaging said arm and having a hook-shaped portion terminating at its free end adjacent said iirst named means, means yieldably supporting said member in said arm to provide movement of said end of the hook-shaped portion thereof toward and from said first named means in supporting a workpiece therebetween, means detachably coupling said member with said arm, and means forming a yielding pivot between said member and arm to provide for manual disengagement of said last named means and independent swinging movement of the member with respect to said arm. v

' 9. In an attachment of the class described having a spreader for engaging the welt lip of a. sole in the operation of stitching the sole and upper together, a workpiece supporting member having a hook-shaped part, the free end of which is disposed adjacent said spreader, means supporting said memberto adjust the end of said part toward and from the spreader and to swing said member vertically about the axis of the spreader, other means yieldably supporting said part to tensionally move the end thereof in the direction of the spreader in supporting a workpiece on said spreader, and other means yieldably coupling said member with the rst named means to provide vertical kand lateral swinging movements of said member with respect to said first named means.

10. In :in-attachment of the class described having a spreader for engaging the Welt lip of a sole in the operation of stitching the sole and upper together, a workpiece supporting member having a hook-shaped part, the free end of which is disposed adjacent said spreader, means supporting said member Ito adjust the end of s aid part toward and from the spreader and to swing said member vertically about the axis of the spreader, other means yieldably supporting said part to tensionally move the end thereof in the direction of the spreader in supporting a Workpiece on said spreader, other means yieldably coupling said member with the first named means to provide vertical and lateral swinging movements of said member with respect to said rst named means, and a finger piece coupled with said part to move the end thereof in a direction away from said spreader in the insertion and removal of the workpiece.

ALEXANDER SOLTAN. 

